Halloween time, kids. Once again, it's time to drench the streets of this fetid and rotting cityscape in blood, barf, gore, discarded angel wings, and regret. Satan is super stoked because this year, his birthday actually falls right on the Friday night, and, as such, there's just no excuse to not get out there and get a costume on, even if you're some oblivious damn Euro with only a vague understanding of what this holiday is all about. You Dusseldorf bastards know who you are, Google that shit. Hey, here's a bunch of parties going on, broken down into handy categories, somewhat. Some of them are sppppppoooooky. Some are scaaaaaaarrryy. Some of them miiiiight suuuuuuck. But that's just the way these things go. Happy Halloween! ***

Enormous and Baffling Dance Parties

Yen hosts another one of their trademark monster bashes, this year back out at 751 D-Park. Shit's hard to find, but just get yourself in the general area and put your ear to the ground and listen for booming Tech House music. Thousands of people expected, a good half the DJs in this city playing, and the whole thing headlined by disco dance live act Nova Heart. Click the above link for the full run-down. Entry: 130rmb in advance; 200rmb at the door; 330rmb for VIP. Tickets available here. RELEASE HALLOWEEN @ LIV Friday night at LIV is the RELEASE party people, which is an EDM sort of thing presented TO THE XTREME. Lots of things dazzling, gushing, shooting, and spraying at you from from all directions, in this, the biggest dance club in Beijing.  If you're looking to get decapitated by a T-shirt gun, this is your best bet. Music from DJ MAG Top-100 DJ Tenashar and Dutchman Billy the Kit, supported by Blood Shot Nurse twins, Qing Dynasty zombies, the murderous black widow and the possessed ghost busters. Hot damn. 100rmb pre-sales; 150rmb at the door. Starts 10pm. *

Dingy Dives, Cheap(er) Covers

Street Kidz glitch hop crew is slated to get super freaky deaky out in The Bar at Migas. Might be too cold these days for the roof, but that just creates a more intimately perverse night in the barroom downstairs. Looks like they're putting a fair amount of effort into the decor -- haunted house, creepy dolls and stuff -- so that might be a fun and photogenic place to be. Music is their residents joined by Shackup, Oshi, and DJ Siesta making the trip up from Shanghai. Expect harder nu house, grime, some glitch, breaks, assorted bass-heavy shit, and maybe a bit of D 'n' B. "Dress code: everything or nothing." 60rmb at the door. SPOOKED: Halloween Party @ Lantern One of the hightlights of YOUR Beijing clubbing calendar, the newly renovated Lantern is hosting their yearly Spooked party, which is basically just a bunch of people dressing up and getting crunk in the basement club until the morning hours. Good for late night sweaty dancefloors and costumes on the fly -- they have facepainters and stuff. The other half of Beijing DJs are on the line-up split into two rooms of music. 100rmb at the door. Ouch. Black Eyeliner @ Dada Covered this one a bit on the Music Monday thing so we won't get too deep into it, suffice to say that this will probably be the most holiday-specific electronic/dance music you'll hear this year. The line-up is a bunch of goth and industrial-minded DJs scheduled to keep it fucking evil until 6am or whatever. Should have some good, out-there visuals as well. Get there early for the rare Jerry Chan set 10pm to 11pm -- he's one half of the famous Old Man Industrial Power Hour duo and has his finger on the trigger to play some Slayer in the dance club which is just A Real Bad Idea. No cover. Starts 10pm. *

That Devil Music

Metal is Satan's favorite kind of music and Yugong Yishan is doing Him proud, hosting a big ole Thrash/Death Metal show with a big line-up of Beijing heshers scheduled to play. Lots of Thrash scene heavyweights from Suffocated and Bad Mamasan to EBM Apocalypsecore act Zaliva-D on the bill. If you want to get some hairfarmer's illustrious mane in your mouth in the pit this is where you do it. Mmmm. Speaking from direct experience, I can tell you it tastes exactly like frustration and not getting laid. Like exactly.120rmb at the door. FACE-OFF @ Mao Livehouse Speaking for sheer numbers alone, this one should go off, with the Los Crasher cock rock junta hosting anther one of their Mao Livehouse Halloween blowouts. Big damn line-up of bands on the bill: Los Crasher, EXPLOSICUM, Thyblood, Hell City, Skullcrusher + S.C.O.D., Car Car Cars, and Miss Mix. Yeah, EXPLOSICUM. (They're pretty good, as you can imagine.) Music is that street punk, through to cock and butt rock, on into Black and Thrash Metal. Throwing it all on the plate. This one starts earlier at 8pm. 100rmb at the door. Halloween Nights @ Temple Temple is doing Halloween shit for both Friday at Saturday, with the Beijing "They're Still Doing That?" Misfits tribute act, joined by fresh face agitators The Bastards of Imperialism, also doing some Roky Erikson and Ramones, and some mystery band that's going to look a helluva lot like Devils at the Crossroads. Special treat for the show is Bad "They're Still Doing That?" Mamasan turning in a full set of Black Sabbath Covers. On the next night, Saturday night, Bluegrass and Americana act The Randy Abel Stable takes the stage, leading a old timey music party, joined by Randy Abel tribute act, The Randy Disabled Stable. (Not really but how sweet would that be, right?) No cover on either night. Get there 9:30ish. Tavey Lean and the Solid Gold Dream @ 4corners If you even shoot Tavey Lean in a dream you better wake up and recognize. Beijing's finest retro funk and soul covers act takes the stage on their home turf at 4corners. Every time they play there, it packs out and gets nutty, so we're thinking doubly so for Halloween. 10:30pm start time. 50rmb cover. Get there earlier if you want to carve a space out for yourself. *

Fancy, Schmancy

There's a new high-end restaurant slash club opening up in Gongti called Gallery Beijing, and they're launching on Halloween night with a dinner plus party event for 300rmb, all in. "Gallery Beijing" -- one of those marriages of art, design, luxury, opulence, fashion, blah, blah, blah. Haven't been yet but they're throwing lots into this opening night party, with music by PENG and BB Deng and event org from Aurora Events. Sounds like it's like a "I'm too old for that clubbing shit" kind of clubbing shit for the fashion crowd. Sound like you? Tickets and details right here. Dinner starts at 7:30pm. Scaryin Halloween @ Yin on 12 Friday night, real estate moguls and sundry rich types are celebrating their great business relationships with the devil, out on their opulent rooftop bar at Yin on 12 in the New World Beijing. They've got dance performances, drink give-aways and specials, and all kinds of lush and luxurious surprises in store. If someone hands you a business card and you cut yourself on it when they're giving it to you, I'd watch out. No cover but call ahead for table reservations before Wednesday. Starts 7pm. Dark Circus Party @ Parlor Every day is kind of an old timey dress-up thing at Parlor, so they're kicking it up a notch for their Halloween party, which is a "Dark Circus Party". They've got creepy clowns, freaks, side-show performers, dancers, and more. Maybe kind of like a classy Gathering of the Juggalos. Maybe not. Music is acid swing from Peter Stone, and they've also got special drinks and such on the menu. Dress code is clown costume stuff -- wigs, make-up, big shoes, polka dot e'rthang. Starts 9pm. 50rmb cover. *

Creature Features

This one's on for the day before Halloween, this Thursday night -- a great way to kick off your festivities. Mas' Scream Queens schlock horror films returns this year with a doubleheader of nothing but pure wonderfulness: Troll 2 and Brain Damage. Special drinks on offer. Starts 9pm. Get there earlier to get a proper seat. Think lots of people will turn up for this one. No entry fee. Rocky Horror Picture Show @ Home Plate Let's. Do. The time warp. Agaaaaaaaain. Home Plate are leading the RHPS charge, with a free screening plus a gifts bag at the door to go with the movie. After the flick, Bye Bye Kitty grunge covers act takes the stage. Now that's fucking scary. Call manager Dave Bob to reserve your seat for the show. No cover. Starts 9:30pm sharp. Beijing Horror Society @ Beiluo Bread Bar Beijing Horror Film Society is emerging from the 69cafe and hosting a Halloween night film-based shaker at Beiluo Bread Bar. Horror films on the wall screen all night long, tunes, and a costume contest. Starts 9:00pm. No cover. *** Play safe, kids. Don't eat any razor blade apples. Have a good one!